Songkran is the Thai New Year, observed in mid-April, and it is the most important festival in the Thai calendar. In Phuket, as in cities across Thailand, it has a particular character that is part genuine cultural celebration and part enormous, good-natured, island-wide water fight. Both parts are worth understanding before you arrive in the middle of it.
The Thai New Year is based on the traditional solar calendar and falls on April 13 to 15, with celebrations typically extending for several days in either direction. The water-throwing tradition derives from the ancient practice of gently pouring scented water over the hands of elders as a mark of respect and blessing — a form of cleansing and renewal to mark the new year.
Over time, the gentle hand-pouring has evolved into something considerably more vigorous. The symbolic cleansing now involves water guns, buckets, hoses, and in some areas, pressurised water cannons mounted on pickup trucks. The spirit is genuinely festive rather than aggressive — people are laughing rather than attacking — but the result is that anyone in the main celebration areas will get comprehensively wet.
Bangla Road and the surrounding streets are the epicentre of Songkran in Phuket. The celebration runs from around noon until late evening across the full festival period, with peak activity in the mid-afternoon. Organised zones, music, and a genuinely spectacular level of collective participation make Patong the most immersive Songkran experience on the island.
Preparation is simple: waterproof everything that matters. Phone in a sealed case. Wallet in a ziplock bag inside your pocket. Clothing that dries quickly. Footwear that can get wet. Anything else leave at the hotel. Go with the intention of getting very wet and you will have an excellent time.
The Phuket Old Town celebration has a different character to Patong — more culturally oriented, more family-centred, and less overwhelming in volume. The ceremonial aspects of the festival are more visible here: Buddhist temple ceremonies, the gentle water-pouring tradition between family members, and the cleaning of Buddha images that is the festival’s spiritual core.
Old Town Songkran is the right choice for travellers who want to understand what the festival actually means beneath the water fight.
The water used in street celebrations is cold. In the 35-degree April heat, this is welcome. Sunscreen needs to be applied and reapplied heavily, as the water washing over you removes it continuously.
Motorbike riding during Songkran is even more hazardous than usual — visibility is reduced by water thrown at helmets and the roads are wet. Use Grab or a taxi for any necessary transport during the festival period.
Not all of Phuket celebrates at the same intensity. If you want to avoid the water fights, most of the island outside Patong, Old Town, and a few other designated zones is calm and dry.
Our boat trips run through the Songkran period on days with suitable sea conditions. The Andaman Sea in mid-April is generally still excellent and the boat trip provides a convenient escape from the land-based festivities if a day of relative quiet on the water is appealing after a couple of days of celebration.
— Captain Mark
Exceptional, uncrowded island day trips from Phuket. Family-owned and operated since 2004.
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